I've heard so many great things about it. Not so much great things. Just that it's one of those must see teen drama TV shows, and was on some sort of list of top 100 TV shows in like 2007, but that was before Vampire Diaries, Pretty Little Liars, Awkward and Teen Wolf, so I think things have changed. But I loved Dawson's Creek, One Tree Hill, all those shows with the huge love triangle at its center. The kind of love triangles that pit friends against friends (to this day if someone claims to be 'Team Peyton' I will slash their tires and never speak to them again #TeamBrooke), and makes mothers turn against daughters (the fact that my mother is Team Dawson is still a touchy subject between us, but I have comfort in knowing that at least Joey - unlike Lucas - chose correctly, #TeamPacey).
Anyways, I realized, I wanted to make the Team Noel vs. Team Ben decision for myself. It seems like 90s teenagers had to pick a side and fight to the death (granted, I wasn't a teen in the 90s, but I've always felt like I was ahead of my time - wise beyond my years, if you will). So, I decided to watch. And, after the first episode, I feel like i made right decision. Please see below for my live commentary during the first episode. I realized quickly that I was going to be taking up way too many tweets about this if I kept it to twitter, so I decided that my blog would be a better outlet. You're welcome, twitter followers.
Anyways, here's the live commentary, which is basically stream of consciousness writing for TV critics, so I'm aware it may not make sense (but probably makes more sense than your typical stream of consciousness writing), but I swear if you followed along while watching you would totally understand :
The first two comments can also be seen on my twitter, they are more crude, I've classed this blog up. Not sure how long that will last though:
@bflor: Also, I'm just gonna go with Felicity is a Grade A moron. Who says no to Stanford?? NYU is appealing but jesus go to FUCKING STANFORD!!
@bflor: Who the fuck talks into a tape recorder? I mean, I know it's 1998, but was that really ever a thing? Couldn't you send a freaking letter?
This girl is a hot ass mess. Not only did she go to NYU (or UNY - whatever the equivalent of NYU is because the show couldn't apparently pay NYU to use it? Or didn't want to? I'm not really sure - it's besides the point) instead of Stanford, BUT she told Ben, a guy she literally didn't even know in high school and just had a huge crush on, exactly why she decided to go to school there (because of him).
STALKER. How do you listen/respond to that, and not think that she's a stalker? Who (other than stalkers and crazy people) decides to decline Stanford and go to UNY solely because she likes a boy who wrote something kind of nice in her yearbook? Ben seemed to handle it relatively well though, I mean, he didn't call the police and/or psychiatric ward on her.
Anyways, Team Ben vs. Team Noel is apparently the biggest thing about this show?
Here's a quick recap: Ben is super hot. So on the hotness factor: Advantage Ben. Scott Speedman. I understand why one would be *tempted* to decline Stanford.
Noel: Seems like a loser. He's her RA. Also Scott Foley, who does not win points for me. Definitely was never good enough for Jennifer Garner (who I hear makes a cameo!! I'm super pumped). I'll give him another chance though. I'd hate to make hasty decisions on something so important.
Sidenote: Why are they putting things in lockers? THERE ARE NO LOCKERS IN COLLEGE. Get it together, Felicity.
And can we LOL at the fact that her friend automatically assumes that Ben and Felicity are dating? It makes me laugh. Why is Ben hanging out with her? I mean after someone says "oh hey by the way i gave up my potential medical career at Stanford on a whim to move to NYC to be with you", you should pretty much put the crazy sticker on their forehead and stay away.
Also HAHA. Ben is saying he likes her friend. Crushing blow.
$10 says that Ben is hooking up with Julie when Felicity knocks on his door in the middle of the night?
Can we also discuss how she's upset that Ben doesn't like her? Dude doesn't know her! Also, she's bringing up physics. Another $10 that she brings up the fact that she read his college application essay?
And yes, I win, because she does.
Felicity: "You made me fall in love with you"
Ben: "All i did was be nice to you, it was your choice to come here, not mine. You don't even know me." Well said, Ben, well said.
And another $10 goes to me because Julie (her friend) was over at Ben's apartment. I really need to not be betting myself and start making some actual $$$
But this is what I'm saying. This girl is straight up crazy. So I don't really know why they made a show about her. And it got ratings that the CW would kill for these days.
So, how come Ben comes to her dorm to console her after she flips a shit at his dorm for him not liking her...? This scene is actually kind of amazing though because Sarah McLaughlin's Angel is playing. Except that song was put to much better use on Buffy when she leaves town after killing Angel (makes so much more sense).
Sorry for the digression. But Ben asks her up on the roof?? How can you invite someone on the roof and *not* expect them to think you want to make out with them. I guess I kind of understand why Felicity thinks that he likes her if he has been pulling shit like this off camera.
"You provoke me, to think about things I don't want to think about. Just by looking at me" Surprisingly, this was said by Ben. Maybe they are meant to be together, since they're both super weird and apparently there is a weird unspoken connection between the two of them? Since they're both referring to it?
Felicity, regarding her move to NYC: "I've never made a substantial decision in my life. I thought it was you, but you're just really the excuse" So...what? Now we're supposed to believe that Felicity didn't come here for Ben?? Really? This seems to be a complete lie. I don't believe you, Felicity, you can lie to Ben, you can lie to me, but don't lie to yourself.
Noel is now trying to stop her from leaving: "You musn't leave this school". This guy is a super loser. Who says 'musn't' while still being serious? What RA tries to convince a Freshman he has literally spoken to about 5 times to not leave NYC? Maybe I'm Team Noel now, since obviously this guy is crazy too and has developed apparently intense feelings for Felicity in less than a week? Two crazy people make it OK, right?
Guys, guys, guys, it's now OK that Julie hooked up with Ben because she apologized for it and Felicity is leaving anyways. JUST KIDDING. Felicity can't leave guys, that would defeat the whole purpose of this show. Don't give up yet girl, you can still force him to love you!
Loving how Felicity's parent's control her life. Her dad has "taken care" of her application to Stanford, yet again. GAME CHANGER. THEY (parents) ARE MANIPULATING HER TO LIVE THE LIFE THEY PLANNED FOR HER. Her dad 'made some calls' to get her into Stanford. So obviously now she's pissed, and they are bribing her with her mom's car. HAHA SHE HIT THE PANIC BUTTON. Girl's got a sense of humor. So do the writers.
Anyways, I know this is shocking to everyone, but Felicity has decided to stay in NYC. Her parents are about to straight up disown her. I approve (of Felicity's parents).
Oh finally. The rando ex-French teacher, to whom she (Felicity) has been sending her voice recordings (from the tape recorder), responded to her. It's like she finally has a friend (who won't sleep with Ben).
Oh hey, this was produced by j.j. abrams. Cheers to you, j.j., but Alias was a FAR better pilot, and I'm going to go out on a limb here and say, far better show. But this was amusing, nonetheless.
